Recessed latch for flush file drawer faces



Dec. 20, 1966 Y' B. o. BUHRMASTER 3,292,985

' RECESSED LATCH FOR FLUSH FILE DRAWER FACES Filed May 1:5, 1965 v2 s eet 1 16Ar i "1 11| l l 60A .62 84 74 120A 9e 21 a4 82 I n l l 1 `1 f f l g, 14a 54 Jul Il 72 1176 l 15o \/121 6l A ETg o 24 /46 |23 o /l2l 50 l2l^ 1 yl! l 13o g 122 50 1 5 l.' 'IW 7o 6 90 i 40 5 162 I j 3 v |81 15o 24 16o 181 16 l 3 v F164 162 173 11o 112 64 52 4 162 10o 104 104 21 4 l wrv.) /24/25 1 II -I "l1 11 'I I 1 I I 25 nl l I" .Il 10o v 4e l I I n 1 l 1 .n

. 1 3.4/ 336// k106 34 R776 f 18o 1 v 2 j /10 1 E 17o J 12 46\ N14 FlG- I4 52V 164`v V76 2 l 78 1o 80 1 FIG 1NVENTOR BRUCE O. BUHRMASTER ATTO R N EYS Dec 20, 1966 B. o. BLJHRMASTER RECESSED LATCH FOR FLUSH FILE DRAWER FACES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 13 1965 INVENTOR BRUCE O. BUHRMASTER Wauw/5% "ZI ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,292,985 RECESSED LATCH FDR FLUSH FILE DRAWER FACES Bruce 0. Buhrmaster, North Aurora, Ill., assigner to All-Steel Equipment Inc., a corporation of Illinois Filed May 13, 1965, Ser. No. 455,515 Claims. (Cl. S12-320) My invention relates to a recessed latch for iiush le drawer faces, and more particularly to a tile drawer front panel arrangement involving a recessed or set-back drawer pull and latching arrangement that is flush with the front or outer face of the drawer.

Conventional tile cabinet drawers are ordinarily provided with an outwardly projecting pull handle of the familiar U-shaped type together with some form of thumb engaging latch release member or button that projects forwardly or outwardly of the face or front panel of the drawer.

The outwardly projecting character of the conventional pull handle and latch release arrangement has long been tolerated even though' the structure provides projections that catch clothes, thatare subject to damage when drawers are being transferred or furniture or the like is moved past them, and that can be operated only with the right hand due to the positioning of the latch release for right-hand thumb engagement and operation.

A principal object of my invention is to provide a file drawer hand' pull and latch release arrangement that is recessed behind the front face or surface of the drawer, and that can be readily' operated by either hand with the palm facing either upwardly or downwardly.

Another principal object of the invention is to provide a simplified hand pull arrangement for file drawers that is not only ush mounted but uniform and aesthetically attractive in appearance, to provide a le drawer latch and latch release arrangement that employs simplified pivoting push-button members that are simultaneously operated with either ones left or right hand, and to provide a recessed latch arrangement for file drawers that is economical of manufacture, convenient to install, and long lasting and reliable in use.

Other objects, uses, and advantages will be obvious or become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the application drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the le drawer front panel arranged in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View of the le drawer front panel shown in FIGURE 1, taken along line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the front panel shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, with the forward or outwardly facing side of the panel at the bottom of the gure, and parts being broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevational View of the panel unit shown in FIGURES 1-3, taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, and with the panel rear cover broken away to expose the latch operating mechanismj FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view substantially along line 5--5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 5 but illustrating the movement of the pivotally mounted push buttons in operating the latch device of this invention;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURES 5 and' 6, but showing the lower ends of the push-button mounting structures in plan to illustrate their interconnection for simultaneous swinging movement regardless of which is contacted by the fingers of the user; and

3,292,985 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the latch bar and associated biasing spring that are employed in connection with this invention.

However, it is to be understood that the specific drawing illustrations are provided primarily to comply with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112, and that the invention may have other specific embodiments.

General description Reference numeral 10 generally indicates a front panel unit to which my invention has been applied, comprising a front panel 12 having an outside or forwardly facing surface 14 and an inside o'r inwardly facing surface 16 that dene the usual planar configuration of file drawer front panels. The front panel 12 as a whole is generally quadrilateral in configuration and is formed with a generally quadrilateral opening 16 in which a pull frame 18 is mounted, and in which are disposed a pair of quadrilaterally shaped push buttons 20 of a latch device 21 that are respectively fixed to a pair of post structures 22 (see FIGURES 5 and 6), Which are journalled on a mounting frame 24 for pivotal movement about axes 25 that parallel the upright sides 26 of theopening 16. y

As indicated in FIGURES 5 and 6, the post structures 22 are generally quadrilateral in configuration, and the push buttons 20 are affixed adjacent to corners 28 of the respective post structures, with the pivotal axes 25 being disposed adjacent diagonally opposite corners 30 of the post structures.

VThe post structures 22 dene forward faces 32 to which the respective push buttons 20 are applied.

The post structures 22 are linked together across the bottom of opening 16 by a pair of arms 34 having an interlocking lost motion connection where indicated at 36 in FIGURES 3 and 7.

Operatively associated with one of the post structures 22 is a latch bar 4) that has one of its ends 42 coupled to the associated post structure as at 44 and the other of its ends 46 extending out to the adjacent side edge of the front panel and angled for engagement with theusual latching flange 48 (shown only diagrammatically) that is customarily xediy associated with the filing cabinet itself. As indicated in FIGURE 4, the latch bar end 46 extends outwardly of the front panel through a suitable opening 50 and is provided with depending lug or protuberance 52 for engagement behind the latching flange 48 in the manner customary with such devices.

A torsion spring 54 acting between the latch bar 4i) and the mounting frame 24 biases the latch bar to the latching position shown in FIGURE 5, in which condition the side edges 56 of push buttons 20 abut the upstanding side walls 58 of the pull frame 18 which is mounted in opening 16.

The front panel unit 10 is arranged for incorporation in a file drawer in any convenient manner, and whenthe file drawer is in place, the latching device 21 is operated to unlatch the drawer by inserting ones fingers of either hand through opening 16 with the operators palm of the selected hand facing either upwardly or downwardly, at the convenience of the operator; where the palm faces downwardly, the linger on entering opening 16 will come into contact with the lower rear surface 60 of mounting frame 24 and the lower back edge 61 of pull frame 18, and whereupon using the thumb of the selected hand to push the push button adjacent it inwardly of opening 16, the operator unlatches the drawer, The pushing movenient of the push button in question simultaneously pivots the post structures 22 to the position of FIGURE 6, and by virtue of the connection 44 of one of the post structures with latch bar 40, the latch bar is drawn from the 3 position of FIGURE 5 to the position of FIGURE 6 with respect to the cabinet latching flange 48. This permits the drawer to be withdrawn from the cabinet by pulling on the rear surface 60 of the pull frame 18 and/or the back edge 61 of pull frame 18 and drawing the drawer outwardly in the usual manner.

Where the operator inserts the fingers of one of his hands into opening 16 with the palm of the selected hand facing upwardly, the fingers on entering opening 16 will come into contact with the upper rear surface 60A of mounting frame 24 and the upper back edge 61A of pull frame 18. The operator uses the thumb of the selected hand to push the push button 20 adjacent it, which unlatches the drawer in the manner described above, and permits the drawer to be withdrawn by pulling on either surface 60A or edge 61A.

When it is desired to replace the drawer, one merely pushes the drawer to its usual closed position, as when push buttons 20 have been released, the spring 54 returns the latch bar 40 to its latching position. The connection 44 between the latch bar and its associated post structure 22 permits sullcient downward pivoting or swinging movement of the latch bar when its lug or protuberance 52 engages the cabinet latching flange 48 to permit the latch bar end 46 to ride over the latching flange 48 and then seat behind same under the action of spring 54 to lock the file drawer in place until it is desired to again open the drawer.

Specific description The mounting frame 24 comprises a channel-shaped member having spaced flange portions 70 and 72 connected with a web or base portion 74 that abuts the inside surface 16 of the front panel 14.

The pull frame comprises a chrome plated plate member 76 formed to define an opening 78 in which the push buttons 20 are received when the frame 18 is mounted in position, and also ilange portion 80 that is provided with a pair of spaced apart studs 82 (see FIGURE 4) which are received through appropriately formed holes formed in both the front panel 12 and the mounting frame web 74 to aflix both the pull frame and the mounting frame in place on the front panel. These parts are secured in place by applying a suitable locking nut 84 or the like to each of the studs 82 at the inside of the front panel, as indicated in FIGURE 4.

The pull frame 18 about its opening 78 defines an inwardly projecting quadrilaterally shaped flange portion 86 that complements the opening 16 formed in front panel 12 and is positioned within same, as indicated in FIG- URES 5 and 6. This flange portion 86 defines the upright sides 58 that the push button side edges 56 engage against in the latch position in the latch device 21.

The upper portion of pull frame 18 defines a quadrilateral opening 91 in which appropriate labels may be insertedvfor identifying the contents of the drawer. Such labels may be inserted by slipping same downwardly in the space provided between the back side of the pull frame 18 andthe forward face of the front panel, and the back side of the pull frame in this area may be reduced or indented somewhat to provide this space.

The post structures 22 each comprise a generally channel-shaped member 90 defining rearwardly projecting flanges 92 and 94 connected together by web 96 which defines the forward face 32 at the forward side of the respective post structures.

The flanges 94 of the respective post structures are formed at their upper ends with laterally extending ears 98 that receive the upper ends of pivot pins'100 which also extend through the upper and lower flanges 70 and 72 of the mounting frame 24. At the lower ends of the post structures 22, each post structure is formed with a laterally extending tab 102 that defines the aforementioned lined arm 34 of each post structure. The respective pivot pins 100 pass through the respective tabs 102 to pivotally mount the respective post structures in place` between the ilanges 70 and 72 of the mounting frame 24.`

The pivot pins may be secured in place in any ap` propriate manner, as by using suitable locking rings, nuts, or the like, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

As indicated in FIGURES' 3 and 7,`the arms 102` are formed with tapering sides 104, and their adjacent ends 106 overlap, as indicated at 108. One of the arms 1021 is formed with an elongate opening 110 which receives an upstanding stud or protuberance 112 aixed to or carried by the other arm 106; in the form shown, the

stud or protuberance 112 is an upturned extension porl tion of the indicated arm 106, and it is preferred that the stud portion 112 be proportioned to slidably engage both sides 114 of opening 110 (which is elongate and rectilinear in configuration, as indicated in FIGURES 3 and 7) so that the movement of the post structures when push buttons 20 are actuated is simultaneous and synchronized.

When the push buttons 20 are pushed inwardly of the opening 16 as indicated in FIGURE 6, the tapered sides 104 of arms 34 engage against. an upstanding edge portion of the mounting frame upper flange 70, which serves as a limiting stop with regard to the inward swinging movement of arms 102. This thus defines the unlatched position of the latch arm end 46 (see FIG- URE 7).

The upper mounting frame flange 72 is formed with a I similar ndge portion 120A for strengthening purposes.

Push buttons 20 are aflixed to faces 32 of the respective post structures in any suitable manner. In the form shown each of the push buttons is formed with three rearwardly extending studs 121 that pass through correspondingly located holes in the web 96 of the post structures 22, and an appropriate type of lock nut 123 or the like is applied vto one of the studs 121 of each push button. The push buttons themselves each comprise a chrome plated plate member 125 having forwardly facing knurlled surfaces 127.

As indicated in FIGURE 4, the web 96 of the post structure that is connected to the latch bar 40 is formed with an elongated opening 122 and a second relatively small opening 124 which receive the bifurcated end portions and 132 of the latch bar end 42. The end portion 130 lies in the elongated opening 122 flush with the web 96 while the angled end portion 132 is inserted into the opening 124 and abuts the flange portion 94, as indicated in FIGURE 5, when the latch bar 40 is assembled with the indicated post structure 22.

The other end 46 of the latch bar is applied to opening 50 as part of the assembly process, which may be done at any convenient time.

As indicated in FIGURE 8, the latch bar is provided with a protuberance that is positioned interiorly of the opening 50 to provide a guide for vertical movement of the latch bar under the camming action of the cabinet latching flange 48.

The latch bar 40 is formed with an indented portion 142 defining a pair of openings 144 to receive one end 146 of torsion spring 54, with the other end 148 of the torsion spring being received in similar openings defined by an indented portion 150 formed in the mounting frame face or web 74.

The ridge portion 120 of the mounting frame lower flange 70 is formed with a pair of threaded openings 160 adapted to receive suitable screws 162 for securing in place over the latch device 21 an appropriate cover indicated at 164.

The drawer front panel 12 may be formed in the usual customary manner to define along its side edges the angled configuration indicated at 172 in FIGURES 5-7. This involved folded appendages 173 including a segment 174 positioned at right angles to the panel main section 12 and a segment 176 that is positioned at right angles with respect to the segment 174 and parallel to the main segment 12. The opening 50 is formed in segment 176'. Intermediate the upper and lower portions of the side edges 170 and 172, segments 176 include inwardly projecting flanges 178 to which the drawer side frame members are customarily afxed as by spot welding or the like.

The front panel 12 along its top and bottom edges 180 is similarly formed as indicated at 182 in FIGURE 4, with the bottom edge defining outwardly projecting flanges as at 181 that the drawer oor is aixed to, as by spot welding.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided a novel and simple le drawer pull and latch arrangement which has the desired recessed character and presents a neat front appearance when applied to the front panel of the drawer.

Since either of the push buttons may be operated to operate the latch device 21, it is immaterial which hand the user employs to open the drawer.

When the user desires to open the drawer, he merely inserts his fingers of either hand into the opening 16, with the palm facing either upwardly or downwardly, as desired, and places them in engagement with the adjacent inside surfaces 60 or 60A (as the case may be), while at the same time using his thumb of the hand being used to operate the push button 20 that is convenient.

Consequently, the drawer may be readily opened with either hand at the option of the operator without the usual fumbling for levers or gripping of handles.

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to explain and illustrate my invention and the invention is not to be limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, since those skilled in the art who have my disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A front panel arrangement for file cabinet drawers, said arrangement comprising a front panel having drawer inside and outside surfaces and formed t-o define a quadrilaterally shaped opening having upright spaced apart sides at either end of said opening,

a pair of post structures positioned on either side of said opening on the inside of said panel and journalled for pivotal movement about axes paralleling said opening sides,

means for coupling said post structures together for simultaneous pivotal movement in opposite directions about their respective pivotal axes,

a latch arm coupled to one of said post structures and extending to a position along one edge of said panel for latching engagement with a cabinet,

said latch arm being shiftable between latching and unlatching positions,

spring means biasing said latch arm to said latching position,

and a push button carried by each of said post structures and engaging the respective opening sides under the action of said spring means to serve as stops dening said latching position of said latch arm.

2. A front panel arrangement for file cabinet drawers, said arrangement comprising a generally quadrilaterally shaped front panel dening drawer inside and outside surfaces and formed to define a quadrilaterally shaped opening having upright spaced apart sides generally parallel to the side edges of said front panel,

a pair of post structures positioned on either side of said `opening on the inside yof said panel and mounted for pivotal movement about pivotal axes paralleling said opening sides and extending longitudinally of the respective post structures,

means for coupling said p-ost structures together for simultaneous pivotal movement in opposite diections about their respective pivotal axes,

a latch arm mounted adjacent said inside surface and extending between one of said post structures and the panel side edge adjacent the latter and generally parallel to the panel top and bottom side edges,

said latch arm being mounted for movement longitudinally thereof between latching and unlatching positions,

means for keying said latch arm to said one post structure for transmitting said pivotal movement `of said one post structure to said longitudinal movement of said latch arm,

spring means for biasing said latch to said latching position,

and a push button Vcarried by each of saidpost structures and positioned within said opening adjacent the respective opening sides,

said push buttons being eccentrically mounted with respect to the respective post structure pivotal axes and engaging the respective `opening sides under the action of said spring means to serve as stops defining said latching position of said latch arm.

3. The front panel arrangement set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said coupling means comprises an elongated arm carried by each of said post structures,

with the respective arms being fixed with respect to the respective post structures and extending toward each other,

said arms being in overlapping relation at their adjacent ends,

said adjacent ends being coupled together by lug and slot type lost motion connection means.

4. The front panel arrangement set forth in claim 3 including:

stop means carried by said panel and positioned for engagement by one of said post structure arms for defining the limit of the unlatching position of said latch arm.

5. The front panel arrangement set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said keying means comprising lug and slot type connection means operably interconnecting said one post structure and said latch arm.

6, The front panel arrangement set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said post structures each comprise a rigid member of generally quadrilateral cross-sectional configuration, and defining a forward wall positioned adjacent said panel inside surface,

said push buttons being secured to the respective post structures at said forward walls thereof adjacent the edges thereof that are adjacent to each other,

said pivotal axes of the respective post structures being disposed adjacent edges of said post structures that are diagonally opposite said adjacent edges, whereby said post structures swing rearwardly of said panel when one of said push buttons is pushed inwardly of said openings,

said push buttons being disposed with respect to said post structures to position said forward walls of said post structures in substantial parallelism with said panel inside surface when said push buttons engage said opening sides under the action of said biasing means.

7. The front panel arrangement set forth in claim 6 wherein:

the forward wall of said one post structure is recessed to receive an end portion of said latch arm,

said latch arm one end including a lug portion projecting inwardly of said one post structure and forming said keying means.

8. The front panel arrangement set forth in claim 7 wherein:

a channel shaped mounting frame is affixed to said panel inside surface in alignment with said panel opening and extending parallel to the panel top and bottom sides,

with the web of said channel shaped member being in engagement with said panel inside surface and said web defining an opening coextensive with said panel opening,

and pin means journalling said post structures between the flanges of said mounting frame for providing said pivotal movement thereof.

9. The front panel arrangement set forth in claim 8 including:

a chrome plated pull frame lining said panel opening and aflixed to said panel.

10. The front panel arrangement set forth in claim 9 including:

a cover affixed to said panel over said inside surfaces and overlying said post structures and said latch bar,

said latch bar adjacent said panel side edge extending exteriorly of said cover.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,706,085 3/1929 Straubel 312-333 2,271,431 1/1942 Houston et al. 312-'-333 3,122,402 A 2/1964 Bullock et al. 312-320 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FRONT PANEL ARRANGEMENT FOR FILE CABINET DRAWERS, SAID ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING A FRONT PANEL HAVING DRAWER INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SURFACES AND FORMED TO DEFINE A QUADRILATERALLY SHAPED OPENING HAVING UPRIGHT SPACED APART SIDES AT EITHER END OF SAID OPENING, A PAIR OF POST STRUCTURES POSITIONED ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID OPENING ON THE INSIDE OF SAID PANEL AND JOURNALLED FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AXES PARALLELING SAID OPENING SIDES, MEANS FOR COUPLING SAID POST STRUCTURES TOGETHER FOR SIMULTANEOUS PIVOTAL MOVEMENT IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ABOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE PIVOTAL AXES, A LATCH ARM COUPLED TO ONE OF SAID POST STRUCTURES AND EXTENDING TO A POSITION ALONG ONE EDGE OF SAID PANEL FOR LATCHNG ENGAGEMENT WITH A CABINET, SAID LATCH ARM BEING SHIFTABLE BETWEEN LATCHING AND UNLATCHING POSITIONS, SPRING MEANS BIASING SAID LATCH ARM TO SAID LATCHING POSITION, AND A PUSH BUTTON CARRIED BY EACH OF SAID POST STRUCTURES AND ENGAGING THE RESPECTIVE OPENING SIDES UNDER THE ACTION OF SAID SPRING MEANS TO SERVE AS STOPS DEFINING SAID LATCHING POSITION OF SAID LATCH ARM. 